Home > Press > UAlbany NanoCollege Ranked Number One for Micro and Nanotechology for Second Straight Year

Abstract:
Small Times magazine's annual ranking expands to include universities worldwide

UAlbany NanoCollege Ranked Number One for Micro and Nanotechology for Second Straight Year

Albany, NY | Posted on May 31st, 2007

The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering ("CNSE") of the University at Albany ("UAlbany") - the first college in the world dedicated to nanotechnology education, research and economic outreach - has been ranked by the prestigious Small Times magazine as the world's number one college for nanotechnology and microtechnology, according to the publication's annual University Rankings.

This year's survey is included in the May/June issue of Small Times, the world's leading publication covering micro and nanotechnology, and for the first time included colleges and universities from across the globe, rather than just in the United States. It also comes one year after the UAlbany NanoCollege was ranked by Small Times as the nation's top college for nanotechnology and microtechnology.

CNSE was ranked first overall among all colleges and universities in the world, as well as number one in the areas of education and facilities, receiving the highest five-star rankings in each category from Small Times. CNSE ranked second in commercialization and sixth in research, up from eighth last year.

CNSE's ranking as number one in the world placed it ahead of Cornell University (2), the University of Michigan (3), the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (4), Penn State University (5), Arizona State University (6), the University of Washington (7), North Carolina State University (8), the University of Maryland (9), Rice University (10), Rutgers University (11) and Stanford University (12), among others. CNSE also received top-10 rankings from its peers in three areas: nano commercialization, micro commercialization and micro research.

University at Albany Provost and Officer in Charge Susan Herbst said, "The ranking of UAlbany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering as the world's best college for micro and nanotechnology is a source of great pride and satisfaction. It positions the University, through the talented faculty and researchers at the NanoCollege, as a critical resource in providing the educational opportunities that are essential to growing a high-tech workforce in New York. At the same time, it gives UAlbany a competitive edge as it seeks to attract the best and brightest faculty and students."

CNSE Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros said, "The UAlbany CNSE is delighted by its recognition as the world's top university for micro and nanotechnology by the prestigious Small Times magazine, an honor that truly reflects the vision and investments of Governor Spitzer and Assembly Speaker Silver, who are providing pioneering leadership in advancing the knowledge base that is critical to New York's economic prosperity in the global economy of the 21st century. We are also proud of our SUNY intellectual property development and deployment model that allows CNSE to leverage its intellectual assets and state-of-the-art infrastructure through effective entrepreneurship and commercialization, which has enabled 105 patents and 188 patent applications in micro and nanotechnology in 2006 alone by the CNSE research teams, the CNSE partners' research teams resident at CNSE and cross-licensed to CNSE, or by joint CNSE and partners' research teams resident at CNSE and cross-licensed among the partners."

Small Times sent surveys to research institutions across the world, asking about funding, facilities, micro- and nano-specific courses and degree programs, research programs and more.

"Launched three years ago, CNSE is widely recognized as a global resource for research, development, workforce education, and economic outreach in nanotechnology and its applications," Small Times wrote in its analysis. "UAlbany offers more micro- and nano-specific degrees than any other university: six in total, with small-tech minor/emphasis allowed in additional M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. And, UAlbany was awarded more nanotechnology patents (98) than any other respondent in the Small Times' survey."

These 98 nanotechnology patents were produced on site at the CNSE Albany NanoTech facilities either by CNSE research teams, by the CNSE partners' research teams resident at Albany NanoTech and cross-licensed to CNSE, or by joint CNSE and partners' research teams resident at Albany NanoTech and cross-licensed among the partners.

In addition, 7 microtechnology patents were awarded and 68 microtechnology patent applications and 188 nanotechnology patent applications were filed in 2006 by CNSE research teams, by the CNSE partners' research teams resident at Albany NanoTech and cross-licensed to CNSE, or by joint CNSE and partners' research teams resident at Albany NanoTech and cross-licensed among the partners.

In the education category, CNSE ranked first, followed by the University of Michigan, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Penn State University and the University of Maryland. In the facilities category, CNSE also ranked first, higher than the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Arizona State University, the University of Michigan and Rutgers University.

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About UAlbany CNSEThe UAlbany CNSE is the first college in the world dedicated to research, development, education, and deployment in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience, nanoengineering, nanobioscience, and nanoeconomics. In May 2007, it was ranked as the world’s number one college for nanotechnology and microtechnology in the Annual College Ranking by Small Times magazine. CNSE’s Albany NanoTech complex is the most advanced research facility of its kind at any university in the world: a $3.5 billion, 450,000-square-foot complex that attracts corporate partners from around the world and offers students a one-of-a-kind academic experience. The UAlbany NanoCollege houses the only fully-integrated, 300mm wafer, computer chip pilot prototyping and demonstration line within 65,000 square feet of Class 1 capable cleanrooms. Over 1,600 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, and faculty work on site at CNSE's Albany NanoTech complex, including IBM, AMD, SONY, Toshiba, Qimonda, Honeywell, ASML, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, and Freescale. An expansion currently underway will increase the size of CNSE’s Albany NanoTech complex to over 750,000 square feet, including over 80,000 square feet of Class 1 cleanroom space, to house over 2,000 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, and faculty by the end of 2008. For more information, visit http://www.cnse.albany.edu .